Eastern Absolutism Austria Prussia and Russia Differences from
Eastern Absolutism: Austria, Prussia and Russia
Differences from Western Europe • Empires emerge slowly out of the ashes of religious warfare – Thirty Years War (1618 -48) • Feudalism still exists! – Nobles retain tight grip over agriculture – Peasants are still restricted in their movements – Little international trade and commerce • Little to no overseas colonies
Austria • Led by German-speaking Hapsburg family (remember Charles V and Philip II) • Major monarch: Maria Theresa • Large, multiethnic empire – – – Germans Hungarians Czechs Poles Croats Serbs • Engaged in intense rivalry with Prussia (another German-speaking empire)
Prussia • Emerges as major Protestant power after the Thirty Years War • Major monarch: Frederick the Great • Highly militaristic and rigid society – Noble class (Junkers) are made officers in a large standing army of 80, 000 soldiers • Engages in periodic warfare with Austria over control of smaller, weaker German kingdoms
Russia (pre-1700) • Russia enters 1600’s as an oppressive, backwards kingdom centered around Moscow • Russian Orthodox Church most powerful institution • Russian culture bears noticeable elements of Asian culture (i. e. dress) • Russian boyars (nobles) exercise significant influence over the tsars and their serfs
- Slides: 5